Nadia Ravita had to be content as quarter-finalist at Eddie Herr U-14

Fourteen years old Nadia Ravita hailed from South Jakarta, eventually received "wild card" to play here at "Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships" in its U-14 tournament with singles' main draw at the fullest of 128 slots. As Ravita played for Indonesia, she had no choice to enter her participation into "Eddie Herr" and "Orange Bowl" through Indonesia Tennis Association but as several times happened before to other players, Indonesia Tennis Association made another mistake by sending Ravita's entry to the wrong address.

The tourney is staged at the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. In the first round, Ravita smashed Carla L Sandri of Brazil 6-1, 6-0. In the second round (round 64) she surprised 12th seeded Diana Bogolii of Ukraine with 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory. Ravita kept on her momentum by defeating American Kelsey Laurente 6-4, 6-3 in the third round (round 32). In the round last 16, Ravita maintained her solid form by ousting wild card Hai-Li Kong of USA 6-3, 6-2. Yesterday, Ravita's winning streak was damaged by top seeded Russian Daria Gavrilova 2-6, 3-6 in the quarter-final.

Another entrant in U-14 singles' main draw was Ravita's compatriot Melissa Emile Kandinata. In the first round, Kandinata cruised past Serbian Andela Novcic 6-4, 6-3. Then Kandinata forced to bow out to 10th seeded Anna Shkudun of Ukraine 1-6, 3-6.

Meanwhile in doubles, Ravita partnered with Japanese Sanae Ota. This duo of Indonesia and Japan breezed past Swedish pair, Susanne Celik/Linnea Westergren in the first round (round 64), then they made second round victory over Morgan D Chumney/Viktoria Lakustova (USA/Russia) 8-3. In the third round (round 16), Ravita/Ota did a major damage over top seeded pair, Tristen Z Dewar/Elianne Douglas-Miron (USA/Canada) 8-6 and eventually in the quarter-final yesterday, the mixture of "Kris Dayanti & Utada Hikaru" lost closely to Olga Ianchuk/Daria Lebesheva (Ukraine/Belarus) 6-8.

In the previous tourney Ravita took part, as unseeded she came out triumphant at "U-16 Delray Junior Super Series". In the semi-final, she trashed her compatriot Kandinata 6-1, 6-0 then in the final Ravita denied the challenge of sixth seeded Daria Sharapova of Russia 6-2, 6-1. This 13 years old Sharapova is indeed little cousin of "products' icon" Maria Sharapova. While Muscovite Gavrilova who ousted Ravita yesterday in the last 8 round, despite only 14 years old she reached her highest rank at ITF 94 last October due to her title of ITF Grade 3 in Russia and being runner-up at Serbia ITF Grade 2.

In the meantime in U-16 competition at "Eddie Herr", the sole participant from Indonesia was Christina Limantoro. As student of Bollettieri camp, this girl from Surabaya received wild card and she immediately crashed out in the first round. Limantoro lost to 15th seeded Monica N Turewicz of USA 2-6, 1-6.

Last but not least, Indonesia fielded three boys in the category of U-12 also here at "Eddie Herr". These three boys had quite satisfactory outcome as they all finished in the second round (round 64). Mark Ginting lost to American David Crisovan 4-6, 4-6, while two sons of former national player Aga Soemarno, Fabian Soemarno bowed out to Phillipe Courteau of Canada 0-6, 1-6 and Armando Soemarno defeated by Hong Seong-Chan of South Korea 0-6, 4-6.

In doubles, the pair of Gabriel D Pilones/Fabian Soemarno instantly dispatched by South Korean duo, Chung Jyeon/Shin Geonju 2-8. The other pair Mark Ginting/Armando Soemarno had better result. In the first round (round 64) Ginting/Armando defeated Ricky N Hendler/Wilson Li (Belgium/China) 8-1. In the second round, this Indonesian duo edged past American pair, Nikita Kardivar/Julian A Zlobinsky 8-3. Ginting/Soemarno continued on to win 8-1 over Aleh Drobysh/Ivan Liutarevich from Belarus in the third round. Eventually in the quarter-final, Indonesian duet lost to Justin A Roberts/Jake M Stefanik (Bahama/USA) 7-9.

Personally, I am proud to know that all the girls and boys are bearing the name of Indonesia!!! Keep going, guys!!!

Photo of Soemarno brothers & Ginting - courtesy of Aga Soemarno in Indotennis.com

Photo of Ravita is courtesy of Eddie Herr.com